Arctic Son Directed by Andrew Walton, 2006

In the tiny village of Old Crow, 80 miles north of the Arctic Circle, a father and son are reunited after a lifetime apart. Stanley Njootli, Jr., treks to the harsh Arctic environment, to spend time with his father after nearly 25 years apart. It is also the land of Stanley’s Gwitchin ancestors.

Here, in the raw beauty of the Canadian Yukon, Stanley Jr. must acclimate to a world without partying and pop culture, while both men must deal with years of distance, resentment, and regret. Eventually, the two journey further into the Arctic, and, stripped to even barer necessities, return to the fundamentals of life–food, warmth, shelter–and deal even more intimately with each other. Captivatingly, the camping trip turns into a journey of self-discipline and self-sufficiency that Stanley Jr. does not soon forget.

Rich in stunning footage of the Canadian wilderness and poignant interviews with the emotionally reticent Njootli men, ARCTIC SON chronicles the story of a father and son who reunite after living years–and worlds–apart. Ultimately, too, this powerful film reveals the ties that bind us to land, heritage, and people.